The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating a suspected arson attack on Jewish community ambulances, potentially linked to an Islamist group associated with Iran, as stated by the police chief. The incident, which occurred in Golders Green, north-west London, involved the torching of four ambulances early on Monday morning and is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime rather than terrorism.
A video allegedly posted by an Islamist group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, affiliated with Tehran, showcased a map of the ambulances’ location and footage of the vehicles on fire. Speaking at the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust (CST), Sir Mark Rowley highlighted the escalating threats from the Iranian state in recent years but refrained from directly attributing the attack to Iran at this stage.
Sir Mark emphasized the increasing targeting of Britain’s Jewish community by various entities aiming to instill fear and harm. He mentioned ongoing investigations into the attack, involving three suspects and exploring all leads, including claims by an Islamist group with potential Iranian ties. CCTV footage captured three individuals in hoods pouring accelerant on the ambulances before setting them ablaze and fleeing the scene.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for unity in response to the appalling antisemitic attack, while Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis condemned the targeting of the volunteer ambulance service as particularly disturbing. Although no injuries were reported from the incident, gas canisters in the ambulances exploded, leading to evacuations of nearby homes and road closures in the area.
Counter Terrorism Police, spearheading the investigation, urged anyone with footage of the arson attack to come forward. Recent hate crime statistics in England and Wales revealed Jewish individuals as the most targeted religious group. The government has committed to replacing the ambulances and providing immediate health support in response to the attack and ongoing threats faced by the Jewish community.
